The Big, The Bad And The Beautiful
Never, in all the time I have been writing this column, has it been so easy to title. Mind you, that’s the only connectivity between the duo of films offered this month. But before we learn about what’s showing this month, I must remind everyone that the Orinda Theatre is not – nor has it ever been – something to take for granted.
There is no large corporation underwriting this venue and no conglomerate with a chain of theaters dotting the countryside. It’s an island all unto itself and, as such, should be regarded as a rarity.
If scarcity equals value, then the Orinda Theatre should be of enormous value to everyone in the entirety of the Lamorinda area. We should do everything we can not only to preserve that value, but also to show appreciation toward Derek Zemrak and the many like-minded people who show up night after night to keep the neon burning and the movies showing.
Fortunately, it won’t take too much effort to entice movie-goers to flock to the doors of the Orinda with the two special movies showing, the first being “The Big Lebowski.” Following the misadventures of the ultimate slacker, simply known as “the Dude,” this is one of the Coen Brothers’ nihilistic slice-of-life movies.
Though that may be thought of as a poor choice of words to promote a film by, when it’s as cleverly written and performed as this one is, you will learn that even nihilism can be entertaining. Indeed, this film has attained a certain cult status, is eminently quotable and has such talents as Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore in front of the camera. It screens on July 18 and the admission is free, man.
The next film covers subjects that Hollywood films love to talk about: Hollywood and films, specifically what goes into making them and the tempestuous, erratic behavior of the people who make them, in front of and behind the camera.
One needs only to look at movies like “All About Eve” (any version) or “Day of the Locust,” or most recently, “Babylon,” and you will see all manner of sordid behind-the-scenes behavior.
“The Bad and the Beautiful’’ is no exception. Starring Kirk Douglas as Jonathan Shields and directed by Vincente Minnelli, this film takes an intimate, albeit soapy, deep dive into one person’s efforts to make it in this industry.
The only real problem there is that Shields has betrayed everyone he needs to accomplish this goal. To say that what follows is tempestuous would be an understatement. This is part of the Classic Movie Matinee Series and will screen on July 30 at 1 p.m. Admission is $10. For further information, go to orindamovies.com.
So that’s all the cinematic fireworks July has to offer and, as usual, I encourage everyone to seek out those wonderful images made of sound and light, for that’s where the reel magic lies.
